Connecticut HB 5479: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT'S PLAN TO BECOME A MEMBER OF AN ASSOCIATION OF RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES.

Bill Text

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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5479
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 2643

Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND
EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT

Introduced by:
(HED)

AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT'S
PLAN TO BECOME A MEMBER OF AN ASSOCIATION OF RESEARCH
UNIVERSITIES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section, "top-tier 1
research faculty" means faculty with strong research portfolios and 2
internationally recognized scholarly reputations, as documented 3
through recognition such as receipt of prestigious awards and honors, 4
book publications and citations, research funding or any other means as 5
determined by the president of The University of Connecticut. 6
(b) The University of Connecticut shall implement a plan to hire not 7
fewer than ten new top-tier research faculty on or before June 30, 2029. 8
Such plan shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) improving 9
infrastructure, such as laboratory space and equipment, to support such 10
research faculty, (2) developing an effective recruitment strategy, and 11
(3) supporting graduate students working for such research faculty. 12
(c) Not later than July 1, 2027, and annually thereafter until and 13

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including July 1, 2029, the president of The University of Connecticut 14
shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a 15
of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General 16
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education 17
and employment advancement. Such report shall include the status of 18
implementing the plan to hire new top-tier research faculty pursuant to 19
subsection (b) of this section. 20
Sec. 2. (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) For the purposes described in 21
subsection (b) of this section, the State Bond Commission shall have the 22
power from time to time to authorize the issuance of bonds of the state 23
in one or more series and in principal amounts not exceeding in the 24
aggregate twenty million dollars. 25
(b) The proceeds of the sale of such bonds, to the extent of the amount 26
stated in subsection (a) of this section, shall be used by The University 27
of Connecticut for the purpose of improving infrastructure, such as 28
laboratory space and equipment, to recruit new top-tier research faculty 29
pursuant to section 1 of this act. 30
(c) All provisions of section 3-20 of the general statutes, or the exercise 31
of any right or power granted thereby, that are not inconsistent with the 32
provisions of this section are hereby adopted and shall apply to all 33
bonds authorized by the State Bond Commission pursuant to this 34
section. Temporary notes in anticipation of the money to be derived 35
from the sale of any such bonds so authorized may be issued in 36
accordance with section 3-20 of the general statutes and from time to 37
time renewed. Such bonds shall mature at such time or times not 38
exceeding twenty years from their respective dates as may be provided 39
in or pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the State Bond 40
Commission authorizing such bonds. None of such bonds shall be 41
authorized except upon a finding by the State Bond Commission that 42
there has been filed with it a request for such authorization that is signed 43
by or on behalf of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 44
and states such terms and conditions as said commission, in its 45
discretion, may require. Such bonds issued pursuant to this section shall 46

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be general obligations of the state and the full faith and credit of the state 47
of Connecticut are pledged for the payment of the principal of and 48
interest on such bonds as the same become due, and accordingly and as 49
part of the contract of the state with the holders of such bonds, 50
appropriation of all amounts necessary for punctual payment of such 51
principal and interest is hereby made, and the State Treasurer shall pay 52
such principal and interest as the same become due. 53
Sec. 3. (Effective July 1, 2026) The sum of thirty-five million dollars is 54
appropriated to The University of Connecticut from the General Fund, 55
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, for personnel costs, including, 56
but not limited to, salary and fringe benefits, to recruit new top-tier 57
research faculty pursuant to section 1 of this act. 58
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 July 1, 2026 New section
Sec. 2 July 1, 2026 New section
Sec. 3 July 1, 2026 New section

HED Joint Favorable C/R APP